April 18, 2012

IER Statement on New EPA Anti-Hydraulic Fracturing Regulations

April 18, 2012

“This rule is the result of a well-worn path whereby environmentalist ideologues sue the federal government to restrict fossil fuel development, while politicized regulators jump gleefully at the chance to aggrandize the power of their agencies.”
— IER President Thomas Pyle

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency released today the Obama administration’s final rule for hydraulically fractured well operations, the result of a lawsuit filed by environmentalist groups against the federal government during the first year of the Obama presidency. IER President Thomas Pyle issued the following statement after the EPA rule was announced:

“Once again, the Obama administration is using the Environmental Protection Agency to execute its war on affordable energy. Today’s announced rule will increase the regulatory burden on natural gas producers that use proven, safe hydraulic fracturing technologies to provide low-cost energy to American consumers. The EPA claim that its final rule is based, in part, on reported cost savings to industry is disingenuous and fraudulent, especially given the administration’s repeated efforts to impose punitive, discriminatory taxes on oil and gas producers.

“In the end, this rule is a result of the well-worn path whereby environmentalist ideologues sue the federal government to restrict fossil fuel development, while politicized regulators jump gleefully at the chance to aggrandize the power of their agencies. President Obama has been busy touting his support for more hydraulic fracturing and taking credit for natural gas production increases on private and state lands that have driven down the price to record lows. Meanwhile, he has been actively working through regulation to disrupt safe fossil fuel production and restrict access to American energy.”